Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Tomorrow I leave for San Antonio, TX for my first meeting as a member of the Board of the CBMT (Certification Board for Music Therapists). It is an honor to serve the field of music therapy in this capacity, as the CBMT is the body that administers and maintains our national credential. I have recently been sent hundreds of pages of reports and other documents to read by tomorrow! It's always eye-opening to see all the work that goes on behind-the-scenes of an organization such as this. It is so important that music therapists possess the skills and competencies necessary to be effective clinicians, since we have such a profound impact on the lives that we touch.

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As an alumna of Cornell University, each January I participate in the Extern Program, in which students spend a few days during their winter break shadowing a professional in a field of interest. This year I hosted a young woman who is a jazz singer. She later wrote the following to me:

I wanted to thank you for such a great experience at the Center. It helped me realize the importance of doing good for others, a friendly and dynamic work environment, and music in a career choice. I had a wonderful time learning, meeting, taping, watching, indexing, and talking with you and everyone at the Center.Perhaps we inspired a potential new music therapist!

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Yesterday the Center for the second time hosted a class from the School of Visual Arts. Dr. Rebecca Di Sunno, who teaches in the Art Therapy Department here at NYU, also teaches a class in Expressive Arts Therapies at SVA. David Marcus and I presented an introductory lecture, with many video examples of clinical work, to over 20 students. Afterwards, one student approached us to say that her younger brother had come to the Center back in the mid-90s, as a preschooler, for music therapy! He is now graduating from high school and looking into both work possibilities and college. Where does the time go?